HARRISBURG – The Senate approved a bill today sponsored by Senator Scott Martin (R-13) that would reauthorize a key agency that supports affordable and accessible health care for all Pennsylvanians.
Senate Bill 841 would reauthorize the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), which is responsible for collecting and analyzing data about the cost and quality of health care in the state, as well as studying issues that affect access to care. All of the information gathered by the agency is made available to the public, and recommendations are also provided to reduce costs to consumers.
“Rising health care costs are one of the biggest concerns not only in Lancaster County, but also throughout Pennsylvania,” Martin said. “This agency plays a critical role in helping lawmakers, health care providers, insurers and the general public understand the scope of the problem and identify specific issues we can address to promote a better and more efficient health care system.”
Most recently, PHC4 completed work on a financial analysis of ambulatory surgery centers, research on hospital stays for mental disorders, an issue brief on cancer hospitalizations for Pennsylvania children, and a three-year review of admissions for opioid overdoses.
Created in 1986, PHC4 has been reenacted and amended numerous times. The most recent authorization was enacted by Executive Order by Governor Tom Corbett in 2014.
The legislation was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.
CONTACT: Terry Trego (717) 787-6535